Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

The Chairman welcomed Members and officer to the reconvened meeting.

**At its 2 December 2024 meeting, Executive resolved to adjourn consideration of this item. Executive is reconvening to consider this item**

** Due to the size of the documents, only the cover report is included with this reconvening of meeting notice. All appendices can be accessed at the 2 December Executive meeting webpage **

Report of Assistant Director Planning and Development

Purpose of report

To seek approval of the Proposed Cherwell Local Plan 2042 for the purpose of inviting representations.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1         To consider the comments made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 12 November 2024 (Appendix 8a) and 26 November 2024 (Appendix 8b – to follow).

1.2         To agree that the Proposed Cherwell Local Plan 2042 at Appendix 1 be approved for the purpose of inviting representations under Regulations 19 and 20 of The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended).

1.3         To agree that the Assistant Director – Planning and Development be authorised to approve the final presentation of the Plan and to make any necessary minor administrative amendments and corrections to it prior to formal publication and in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development.

1.4         To agree that the Assistant Director – Planning and Development be authorised to publish any necessary supporting documents, including an Infrastructure Delivery Plan, and other background papers in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development.

Resolved

(1)          That, having considered and noted the comments made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings on 12 November 2024 and 4 December 2024 (reconvening of adjourned 26 November 2024 meeting) the following change be made to paragraph 8.5. of the Proposed Local Plan:

“ We need to carefully manage development pressures in the interest of seeking housing delivery which benefits local communities, does not lead to unacceptable pressure on local infrastructure including health care facilities which must meet the needs of our rural communities, and can be supported by sustainable and active travel options and which does not cause damage to the environment that makes our rural areas attractive and distinctive.”

(2)          That the Proposed Cherwell Local Plan 2042 (Appendix 1 to the report), as amended by Appendix 9 to the report and resolution (1) above, be approved for the purpose of inviting representations under Regulations 19 and 20 of The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended).

(3)          That it be agreed that the Assistant Director – Planning and Development be authorised to approve the final presentation of the Plan and to make any necessary minor administrative amendments and corrections to it prior to formal publication and in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development.

(4)          That it be agreed that the Assistant Director – Planning and Development be authorised to publish any necessary supporting documents, including an Infrastructure Delivery Plan, and other background papers in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development.

The Assistant Director Planning and Development submitted a report to seek approval of the Proposed Cherwell Local Plan 2042 for the purpose of inviting representations.

In introducing the report, the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development thanked the Assistant Director Planning and Development, Planning Policy, Conservation and Design Manager and all officers who had contributed to the proposed Cherwell Plan 2042 and all accompanying documents.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Dr Creed, addressed Executive to report on the deliberations of the Committee which had considered the proposed Cherwell Local Plan 2042 in detail at their extraordinary 12 November meeting and 26 November meeting, adjourned to 3 December. The Committee had agreed comments and recommendations to Executive on the content of the Plan and recommended Executive approve the proposed Cherwell Local Plan 2042 for the purpose of inviting representations under Regulations 19 and 20 of The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended).

On behalf of Executive, the Chairman thanked Councillor Creed and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for their thorough review, comments and recommendations.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development and Assistant Director Planning and Development explained that the proposed changes to the Plan arising from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s deliberations had been considered by officers, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development, and were set out at Appendix 9 to the report (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book).

The Chairman referred to correspondence from developers that had he had received and had also been sent to a number of Members, including Overview and Scrutiny Committee members, and officers and confirmed that the council had responded to all correspondence. The responses had been shared with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

In response to Executive comments, the Assistant Director Planning and Development provided clarification in respect on Oxford’s unmet housing need and, referring to the Duty to Cooperate, confirmed there was, and would continue to be, liaison with West Oxfordshire District Council.

In considering the report, Members commended the work that had been undertaken building on and improving the previous version of the Cherwell Local Plan.

Resolved (unanimously)

(1)            That, having considered and noted the comments made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings on 12 November 2024 and 4 December 2024 (reconvening of adjourned 26 November 2024 meeting) the following change be made to paragraph 8.5. of the Proposed Local Plan:

“ We need to carefully manage development pressures in the interest of seeking housing delivery which benefits local communities, does not lead to unacceptable pressure on local infrastructure including health care facilities which must meet the needs of our rural communities, and can be supported by sustainable and active travel options and which does not cause damage to the environment that makes our rural areas attractive and distinctive.”

(2)            That the Proposed Cherwell Local Plan 2042 (Annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book), as amended  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79.

**At its 2 December 2024 meeting, Executive resolved to adjourn consideration of this item. Executive is reconvening to consider this item**

** The report and appendix for this item are attached to this reconvening of meeting notice and can also be accessed at the 2 December Executive meeting webpage (item 9) **

Report of Assistant Director Planning and Development

Purpose of report

To seek approval of an updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) to produce the Council’s key planning policy documents.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1         To approve  the updated Local Development Scheme (LDS)  presented at Appendix 1.

Resolved

(1)          That the updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) (Appendix 1 to the report) be approved.

The Assistant Director Planning and Development submitted a report to seek approval of an updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) to produce the Council’s key planning policy documents.

On behalf of Executive, the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development thanked the Assistant Director Planning and Development, Planning, Policy Conservation & Design Manager and all officers in the Planning Policy Team and wider support for their hard work in the drafting of the updated Local Development Scheme.

Resolved (unanimously)

(1)            That the updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) be approved.

Reasons

An updated LDS is a legal duty for the council as it is stated under section 15 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended). It provides a  programme for completion of the Cherwell Local Plan Review and a potential Community Infrastructure Levy. The LDS will be used by officers, the public, partners and developers and other stakeholders to monitor the production of documents and to plan for associated consultations. Approval of the LDS is needed to assist project management and ensure that the Council meets its statutory responsibilities for planning. The LDS will be reviewed again if there is a further, significant change in circumstances.

Alternative options

Option 1: Not to approve the LDS.

The Council has a statutory responsibility to maintain an LDS. If the Council did not prepare its own LDS the Secretary of State could impose one. Aside from legal duty, not to approve the LDS could undermine the confidence of the public and stakeholders about the Council’s plan-making programme. The LDS would need to be re-presented to the Executive at a future meeting.

Option 2: To reconsider the content of the LDS.

The LDS has been prepared having regard to the Council’s statutory responsibilities and current resources. It is considered by officers to be appropriate for the present and foreseeable circumstances.